Archive for November, 2008

Toothpaste can be good and bad. Unfortunately the better it is at removing stain, the better it is at removing enamel also. Stay away from the high abrasive toothpastes as they can remove the luster and polish of porcelain veneers and crowns and dull that beautiful smile.

The RDA value is also known as radioactive dentin abrasion or relative dentin abrasivity. For a toothpaste to be approved by the FDA, it has to have a RDA value…but often this is not included in the marketing or promotion of the product, since a few of them are quite abrasive…

The ADA has adopted a standardized test. Basically, extracted human teeth are irradiated with mild neutrons, mounted and stripped of enamel. The teeth are then inserted into a brushing machine and brushed at a constant pressure and stroke speed. The rinsewater is then measured for its radioactivity and recorded. Thus after a few calculations, a score or index is given to the toothpaste. Any value over 100 is considered to be abrasive. The ADA recommended limit is 250, whereas the FDA limit is 200. Other factors that are taken into consideration is the size, quantity, and surface structure of the abrasive itself.

Spies in comic books use miniature cameras to secretly take pictures. We, too, have a miniature camera, but we use it to show you exactly what is happening in your mouth. This new technology is called an intraoral camera.

Gone are the days of using a mirror that gave you only partial glimpses of your teeth. Also gone are the concerns of potentially missing a problem area that can easily be overlooked when we do a visual examination.

An intraoral camera uses a tiny video camera at the tip of a wand that is about the size of a ballpoint pen. The camera is powered by electricity; there is no radiation. As we slowly move the wand throughout your mouth, the large, full-color images instantly appear on a TV screen or a computer monitor.

We can see oral diseases and issues when they are in their early stage, which allows us to prevent a serious problem later. We can also show you how well you are doing with your oral homecare because plaque can clearly be seen with the camera. With the intraoral camera, we can show you the problem areas so that you can better understand your dental needs and make informed, confident decisions about your oral healthcare.

This technology lets us store images in your records. The images can be printed for you to take home, and they can be sent to your insurance company or to a specialist. Best of all, an intraoral camera gives you the opportunity to take an active role in your dental treatment.

When we can intervene early, we protect you from suffering more serious dental problems, save you time and money, and get you back to health as quickly as possible.

Call us right away if you are experiencing a dental problem or if it is time for your routine exam. Smart technology can help your teeth to last you a lifetime. Open wide, and smile for the camera!

Energy Erodes Tooth Enamel

Energy drinks are a $10 billion business, and you are getting more than your money’s worth of energy. You are getting tooth decay from the corrosive acids in those drinks.

Dental erosion and decay occurs when acids leach calcium and phosphorous out of your tooth’s enamel, the strong cover that protects the visible part of your tooth. Dental erosion is irreversible. Once the enamel is gone, it is gone forever.

Dental erosion is an epidemic amongst our youth because their teeth are not yet hard enough to withstand constant acid attacks.

Teens and young adolescents are the biggest group of soda consumers, and advertisers target this market. A spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry states that his teen- to 20-year old patients are flirting with needing full mouth reconstructions to repair their damaged teeth unless they change their beverage of choice.

Dental erosion from sports drinks and non-colas can be 11 times greater than drinking other beverages. The worst offenders are energy drinks, canned iced tea and bottled lemonade. Exposing teeth to those beverages for only 14 days produces damage equivalent to 13 year’s normal beverage drinking exposure!

Stopping dental erosion and decay can be done by limiting how much and how often you drink acidic beverages.

Drink an acidic beverage only with a meal.

Wait at least 20 minutes before brushing because your tooth enamel will be soft and vulnerable during that time. In the meantime, rinse your mouth with plain water.